Greg Norman has named Rory McIlroy as Masters favourite despite the Northern Irishman’s meltdown at Augusta last year.
Australian Norman, who is no stranger to losing his nerve during tournaments, has publicly backed the 22-year-old former World No.1 and US Open winner ahead of Sunday’s Masters launch, British media reported.
“I really put Rory as high as favourite going into Augusta this year, no question about it,” Norman said.
“He is putting beautifully; his short game is great; he has the perfect ball flight for Augusta National and now he has to manage his expectations.
“Every top player has been there. I don’t care who you name, whether it’s Arnold Palmer or myself or Steve Ballesteros or Tom Watson, we have all experienced a bit of a meltdown. It’s how you react to it.”
McIlroy held the lead for the first three days of the 2011 Masters but shot 80 to plummet to 15th during a disastrous fourth day, leaving him in tears.
The form was reminiscent of Norman’s 1986 final round at Augusta when he surrendered a six shot lead to Nick Faldo, and prompted `The Shark’ to phone then 21-year-old McIlroy.
“A lot of people reached out to me when it happened to me and it’s a very calming feeling in a lot of ways when you get a call from one of your peers, saying `hey, you know, don’t feel down and out’,” Norman said.
“‘You bite the snake’s head off and the snake’s dead for ever’ is a quote Tom Watson told me one time.
“Rory took one bite by winning the US Open, now he can kill it for ever. I put him a high favourite at Augusta.”